Trusting your gut feeling
This is a 40 year old retired working bull elephant living on a rehabilitation centre for elephants on the of the neyyar river in the jungles near my fair trade.
How I came to be in this position ?
Well I was visiting an elephant rehabilitation near the fair trade charity I have been working with for the last 7 years, I had an opportunity to get up close and personal to these magnificent creatures, including bathing a baby elephant.
This elephant and his keeper bought great wisdom and teachings to me in just the simplicity of their relationship, one of trust and respect.
And potently expressed in this one moment ..
My driver said to me, " madam go have your photo with this elephant " , so I walked up very slowly and constantly in eye contact with both keeper and elephant. .
Than my driver said, "touch his tusk madam ", I thinking Mmm Im not sure, but the keeper nodded gingerly, I could tell this was a look of approach with caution, so I did, & true to a muma style, I sang a shiva mantra I thought he may know or feel safe with. ..too my surprise he raised his ears and trunk and let out a sound, he liked, but for a moment both keeper and I stood strong firm & no fear. . Trust ! !!
And with one small stick the keeper tapped the elephants legs as if to say easy, calm , steady & this beast of jungle who could of crushed both us in an instant stood calm and still .. trust ! !
